Illumination device for producing predetermined intensity patterns

ABSTRACT

An illumination device produces a desired illumination pattern by tailoring the configuration of individual light extraction structures. At least two of the light extraction structures have different configurations from one another. The illumination device includes a light guide having a light guide core and an optically smooth surface for propagating light through the core. A light emitting region extends along a portion of the core and includes a plurality of light extraction structures distributed along the optically smooth surface. The light extraction structures are configured so that light reflected therefrom is emitted from the light guide through the optically smooth surface.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/256,860, filed Feb. 24, 1999, and which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates generally to an illumination device, and more particularly, to a light guide illumination device in which light extraction structures are configured to produce a predetermined intensity pattern such as for use in a vehicle.

[0003] Optically transmissive materials, such as glass or polymers may be used as light guides to propagate light. A light guide typically includes at least one surface adapted to receive light from a light source and an optically smooth surface for reflecting light propagating through or along the light guide. Common examples of light guides include optical fibers traditionally used in the data communication industry and more recently light fibers used for illumination purposes. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,432,876 (the '876 patent) discloses one such illumination device employing light fibers. In this device, light may be injected into at least one end of a light fiber and allowed to exit the fiber at a predetermined position or positions along the length of the fiber to produce an even illumination pattern. Light extraction structures or notches are formed in the core of the light fiber. The extraction structures define first and second reflecting surfaces, which reflect in a radial direction a portion of the light propagating axially through the fiber. The reflected light is directed at an angle that is less than the critical angle necessary for continued propagation along the fiber according to the principle of total internal reflection. As a result, the reflected light is extracted from the fiber. In contrast to prior techniques such as subjecting the fiber to relatively sharp bends, this system extracts light from the fiber in a controlled fashion.

[0004] Light fiber illumination devices have been proposed for use in automobiles and other vehicles. For example, they can be used to evenly distribute a point light source into a long, narrow line that may be employed in spoilers, along the edges of rear windows, or to follow the curve of a trunk lid. Examples of such devices may be found, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,222,794, 4,811,172, 4,868,718, and 4,949,227.

[0005] Light fiber illumination devices can also be used as side markers, emergency flashers, and center high mounted stop lamps, which can serve as indicators of a vehicle's features such as its overall length, width, and height. These devices often must meet specified standard requirements. For example, the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) sets forth a variety of different standards that recommend performance requirements for vehicle illumination devices, which define the amount, direction and distribution of light that the device should produce. For example, certain devices are required to provide light output over an angular range as large as +/−45 degrees for minimum vehicle conspicuity.

[0006] These requirements are often difficult or impossible to achieve with known light fiber illumination devices because they produce a limited set of intensity distributions which do not generally conform with any particular prescribed standard (i.e., SAE, etc.). This limitation arises because devices known in the art comprise light extraction structures that vary only in spacing and depth.

[0007] The present invention is therefore directed to the problem of providing an illumination device with light extraction structures that are appropriately configured to produce a predetermined illumination pattern, for example, one that may be uniform over a range of angles or that has a peak intensity at a given angle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention solves this problem by providing a light guide illumination device that has differently configured light extraction structures. A desired illumination pattern is achieved by individually tailoring the notch angle of each light extraction structure.

[0009] The present invention provides an illumination device that includes a light guide having a light guide core and an optically smooth surface for propagating light through the core. A light emitting region extends along a portion of the core and includes a plurality of light extraction structures distributed along the optically smooth surface. The light extraction structures are configured so that light reflected therefrom is emitted from the light guide through the optically smooth surface. At least two of the light extraction structures have different configurations from one another.

[0010] In one aspect of the invention, each light extraction structure includes an optically reflective surface extending into the light guide core and oriented at a notch angle to reflect light at an angle less than a critical angle so that light is emitted from the light guide through the optically smooth surface. The notch angle denotes the angle between the optically reflective surface and the axis perpendicular to the optically smooth surface.

[0011] In another aspect of the invention, the different configurations of the light extraction structures correspond to different notch angles.

[0012] In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, the light guide may be a light fiber. Additionally, the light guide may have a circular or noncircular cross-sectional shape, and may even be a planar waveguide.

[0013] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the plurality of light extraction structures have different configurations selected so that the emitted light forms a prescribed illumination pattern. The prescribed illumination pattern may be, for example, substantially uniform over an angular distribution of +/−45 degrees, or may be substantially non-uniform by providing relatively more intense light over an angular distribution of no more than about +/−10 degrees. “Angular distribution” is defined in relation to an essentially linear illumination device such as a light fiber, and means the distribution of light rays as a function of angle to some fixed direction. In the present case, light is emitted opposite from the side in which light extraction structures are formed, and this is defined as the direction of zero angle. Furthermore, this invention is primarily concerned with the angular distribution in the plane that contains the zero angle direction as well as the fiber axis. In addition to providing an illumination source that has pre-defined intensity levels when viewed by an observer, the prescribed illumination pattern may illuminate a target in a uniform or non-uniform manner. Therefore, available light is distributed efficiently to a target or to satisfy a prescribed standard. When employed as a vehicular illumination device, the prescribed illumination pattern may conform to an established standard for a vehicular illumination device.

[0014] In accordance with another aspect, the plurality of light extraction structures may be equally spaced apart from one another along the optically smooth surface. Alternatively, the plurality of light extraction structures may be unequally spaced apart from one another along the optically smooth surface.

[0015] In accordance with another aspect, the plurality of light extraction structures may be distributed along a plurality of longitudinal axes of a light guide. Preferably, a light guide in the form of a light fiber having two longitudinal axes may have light extraction structures having unequal notch angles and/or uneven notch spacing distributed along the axes.

[0016] In one particularly advantageous embodiment, the light guide is formed from a polymerizable material such as an acrylate, silicone, or urethane material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017]FIG. 1 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of a known illumination device illustrating the operation of the light extraction structures.

[0018]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the light guide shown in FIG. 1.

[0019]FIG. 3 is a schematic, plan view of an illumination device constructed in accordance with the present invention.

[0020]FIG. 4 shows the illumination pattern produced by the illumination device shown in FIG. 3.

[0021]FIG. 5 shows the intensity distribution in the horizontal direction produced by the illumination device shown in FIG. 3.

[0022]FIG. 6 shows the illumination pattern produced by another embodiment of the inventive illumination device.

[0023]FIG. 7 shows the intensity distribution in the horizontal direction produced by the illumination device employed in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Light Guide Illumination Device

[0024]FIG. 1 depicts a side view of a portion of a known illumination device. The illumination device is formed from a light guide 30 having a circumferential surface 16 that includes one or more light extraction structures 18 ₁, 18 ₂, 18 ₃, . . . formed therein. Typically, light guide 30 further comprises core 34 having a surrounding cladding 36. Each extraction structure includes at least one optically smooth surface 20 ₁, 20 ₂, 20 ₃, . . . . In operation, light ray 40 strikes a portion 24 of circumferential surface 16 not occupied by a light extraction structure 18, where it is reflected back into the light guide at an angle greater than the critical angle of the light guide, and accordingly, continues to propagate along the fiber. By contrast, light ray 42 strikes an optically smooth surface 20 ₁ of light extraction structure 18 ₁, which reflects light ray 42 into light guide 30 at an angle which is less than the critical angle necessary for continued propagation along light guide 30. Light ray 42 is thereby transmitted through opposite surface 32 of light guide 30 at a position opposed to the location of extraction structures 18 ₁. In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, cladding 36 covering optically smooth surfaces 20 ₁, 20 ₂, 20 ₃, . . . is coated with reflective material 38 such as aluminum or silver, for example, to reflect light of less than the critical angle that may be otherwise lost through surfaces 20 ₁, 20 ₂, 20 ₃, . . . .

[0025] The configuration of light extraction structures 18 may be characterized in terms of their depth 12 into light guide 30 and notch angle 14 formed between surface 20 and axis 17 normal to surface 16. Notch angle 14 determines the direction of the light transmitted through surface 32 of light guide 30. Known light guide illumination devices employ light extraction structures having uniform notch angles. However, this arrangement limits the variations in the illumination pattern that the devices can produce.

[0026] The present invention overcomes the limitations of known illumination devices by providing a series of light extraction structures with different notch angles. That is, in the present invention, the angles 14 of light extraction structures 18 are not all the same. Rather, in accordance with the present invention, the notch angles are individually tailored for each extraction structure so that the illumination device provides the desired illumination pattern by integrating the light from different light extraction structures.

[0027]FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the light guide illumination device shown in FIG. 1. For purposes of discussion, the longitudinal axis of light guide 30 will be defined as extending in the horizontal or x direction. Therefore, angular distribution of light, as defined above, is measured in the +/−x direction. The y direction will be defined as the vertical direction, which denotes points above and below the illumination device. Therefore, radial distribution of light is measured in the +/−y direction. The z direction, therefore, defines the direction in which light is emitted and the luminous intensity of the device is measured as a function of an angle from the z direction, in the x-z plane, as depicted by trace 50 of FIG. 2. Thus, the illumination device will emit light so that it forms an illumination pattern in the x-z plane.

[0028] As previously mentioned, vehicular illumination devices must often meet standards that set forth stringent specifications for the illumination pattern that they produce. For example, some devices are required to produce an illumination pattern in the x-z plane that is relatively narrowly confined in the vertical (y) direction but which provides roughly uniform intensity in the horizontal (x) direction. For example, one particular illumination device, which is employed as a vehicle side marker, requires that the intensity of the light in the horizontal direction should be roughly uniform over +/−45 degrees. An illumination device having a series of uniformly configured light extraction structures will not yield such an intensity pattern. However, the present invention discloses that many different intensity patterns may be produced by providing a series of light extraction structures that have different configurations. Specifically, the invention teaches that by providing a plurality of light extraction structures having several different notch angles the intensity pattern can be tailored for a given application. That is, in the present invention the notch angle now becomes an adjustable parameter that can be varied to produce desired illumination patterns. For example, FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the present invention that yields the requisite intensity pattern for the previously mentioned vehicle side marker.

[0029] While the particular embodiments of the invention shown in FIG. 3 and described below are formed from a light fiber, it should be recognized that the present invention is not limited to light fibers but rather is applicable to any form of light guide. Moreover, the light guides need not have a circular cross-section, but rather may have any desired shape. For example, in some embodiments the present invention contemplates the use of planar waveguides.

[0030] The illumination device shown in FIG. 3 employs a light fiber 40 that is 100 mm in length on which twenty light extraction structures 48 ₁, 48 ₂, 48 ₃, . . . 48 ₂₀ are disposed. The diameter of light fiber 40 is 7 mm. Six differently configured light extraction structures are employed, which extend along the light fiber in a given sequence that is repeated in full three times. As tabulated in Table 1, the notch angles θ₁, θ₂, θ₃, . . . θ₂₀ formed between the surface 20 and the normal direction 17 for extraction structures 48 ₁, 48 ₂, 48 ₃, 48 ₄, 48 ₅, 48 ₆, are, respectively, 36, 68, 40, 56, 47.5, and 63 degrees. Extraction structures 48 are uniform in depth. The center of the first light extraction structure 48 ₁ is located 50 mm from the input end 45 of light fiber 40. The remaining light extraction structures are unevenly spaced apart from one another. Table 1 also shows the location of the center of each extraction structure as measured from the first notch of light fiber 40. TABLE 1 Light Extraction Position From First Notch Angle (θ) Structure Notch (mm) (degrees) 48₁  0.000 36 48₂  6.610 68 48₃  12.964 40 48₄  19.077 56 48₅  24.966 47.5 48₆  30.647 63 48₇  36.134 36 48₈  41.441 68 48₉  46.584 40 48₁₀ 51.575 56 48₁₁ 56.427 47.5 48₁₂ 61.153 63 48₁₃ 65.767 36 48₁₄ 70.279 68 48₁₅ 74.701 40 48₁₆ 79.046 56 48₁₇ 83.325 47.5 48₁₈ 87.548 63 48₁₉ 91.728 36 48₂₀ 95.875 68

[0031] A reflector 43 may be incorporated at the end of light fiber 40 that is remote from the light source. Any light that is not emitted by one of the light extraction structures 48 upon its initial pass through the light fiber will be reflected so that it has another opportunity to be emitted by a light extraction structure 48. In this way a greater portion of the total light directed into light fiber 40 is used for illumination purposes.

[0032]FIG. 4 shows the illumination pattern produced in the x and y directions by the illumination device shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 shows a graph of the light intensity vs. angle to the z direction (in the x-z plane) produced by the same device. As FIG. 5 indicates, the intensity is roughly uniform over an angular range of about +/−45 degrees. In the y (or vertical) direction, the intensity is concentrated within an angular range of about +/−15 degrees.

[0033] Another embodiment of the present invention may be used as an emergency flasher for a vehicle. The intensity pattern for the emergency flasher as set forth by the Society of Automotive Engineers should be narrowly focused in the y (or vertical) direction with a peak intensity that extends over a relatively narrow angle in the x (or horizontal) direction. The emergency flasher employs a light fiber that is 400 mm in length and 6.35 mm in diameter on which 200 light extraction structures are disposed. Four differently configured light extraction structures are employed. Table 2 shows the notch angles formed between the surface of the light guide and the normal direction for each of the extraction structures. The extraction structures are uniform in depth. Table 2 also shows the location of the center of each extraction structure as measured from the first notch of light fiber referred to in Example 2 as notch 0. As in the previously discussed embodiment of the invention, a reflector may be incorporated at one end of light fiber so that a greater fraction of the light directed into the light fiber appears in the resulting illumination pattern. TABLE 2 Distance Distance Distance Distance from 1^(st) Notch from 1^(st) Notch from 1^(st) Notch from 1^(st) Notch Notch notch, angle, Notch notch, angle, Notch notch, angle, Notch notch, angle, No. mm deg. No. mm deg. No. mm deg. No. mm deg. 0 0.000 49 50 157.387 49 100 262.928 49 150 338.559 49 1 3.844 55 51 159.919 55 101 264.674 55 151 339.882 55 2 7.655 36 52 162.430 36 102 266.408 36 152 341.199 36 3 11.433 49 53 164.922 49 103 268.130 49 153 342.510 49 4 15.179 55 54 167.393 55 104 269.841 55 154 343.816 55 5 18.893 49 55 169.845 49 105 271.541 49 155 345.117 49 6 22.576 55 56 172.278 55 106 273.230 55 156 346.414 55 7 26.226 45 57 174.692 45 107 274.908 45 157 347.705 45 8 29.846 49 58 177.087 49 108 276.575 49 158 348.991 49 9 33.435 55 59 179.462 55 109 278.232 55 159 350.273 55 10 36.994 49 60 181.820 49 110 279.878 49 160 351.549 49 11 40.522 55 61 184.159 55 111 281.514 55 161 352.822 55 12 44.020 36 62 186.479 36 112 283.139 36 162 354.090 36 13 47.489 49 63 188.782 49 113 284.754 49 163 355.354 49 14 50.928 55 64 191.067 55 114 286.360 55 164 356.613 55 15 54.338 49 65 193.334 49 115 287.955 49 165 357.868 49 16 57.720 55 66 195.584 55 116 289.541 55 166 359.120 55 17 61.072 45 67 197.816 45 117 291.117 45 167 360.367 45 18 64.397 49 68 200.032 49 118 292.684 49 168 361.611 49 19 67.694 55 69 202.230 55 119 294.241 55 169 362.851 55 20 70.962 49 70 204.412 49 120 295.790 49 170 364.087 49 21 74.204 55 71 206.577 55 121 297.329 55 171 365.320 55 22 77.418 36 72 208.726 36 122 298.859 36 172 366.550 36 23 80.605 49 73 210.859 49 123 300.380 49 173 367.776 49 24 83.766 55 74 212.975 55 124 301.893 55 174 368.999 55 25 86.900 49 75 215.076 49 125 303.397 49 175 370.219 49 26 90.008 55 76 217.161 55 126 304.893 55 176 371.436 55 27 93.090 45 77 219.231 45 127 306.380 45 177 372.650 45 28 96.147 49 78 221.285 49 128 307.859 49 178 373.861 49 29 99.178 55 79 223.325 55 129 309.330 55 179 375.070 55 30 102.184 49 80 225.349 49 130 310.793 49 180 376.276 49 31 105.165 55 81 227.358 55 131 312.248 55 181 377.479 55 32 108.122 36 82 229.353 36 132 313.696 36 182 378.680 36 33 111.054 49 83 231.333 49 133 315.135 49 183 379.879 49 34 113.961 55 84 233.299 55 134 316.568 55 184 381.075 55 35 116.845 49 85 235.250 49 135 317.993 49 185 382.270 49 36 119.705 55 86 237.188 55 136 319.410 55 186 383.462 55 37 122.542 45 87 239.112 45 137 320.821 45 187 384.653 45 38 125.356 49 88 241.022 49 138 322.224 49 188 385.842 49 39 128.146 55 89 242.918 55 139 323.621 55 189 387.029 55 40 130.914 49 90 244.801 49 140 325.011 49 190 388.214 49 41 133.659 55 91 246.671 55 141 326.394 55 191 389.398 55 42 136.382 36 92 248.528 36 142 327.770 36 192 390.580 36 43 139.083 49 93 250.371 49 143 329.140 49 193 391.761 49 44 141.761 55 94 252.202 55 144 330.504 55 194 392.941 55 45 144.419 49 95 254.021 49 145 331.862 49 195 394.120 49 46 147.054 55 96 255.827 55 146 333.213 55 196 395.298 55 47 149.669 45 97 257.620 45 147 334.558 45 197 396.474 45 48 152.262 49 98 259.401 49 148 335.898 49 198 397.650 49 49 154.835 55 99 261.171 55 149 337.231 55 199 398.825 55

[0034]FIG. 6 shows the illumination pattern produced in the x-y plane by the previously mentioned emergency flasher. FIG. 7 shows a graph of the light intensity vs. angle to the z direction (in the x-z plane) produced by the same device. As FIG. 7 indicates, the peak intensity in the horizontal direction is roughly limited to an angular range of about +/−10 degrees. Advantageously, in the present design, horizontal light distribution extends out to +/−60 degrees, providing added conspicuity of the device.

[0035] In general, the illumination device of the present invention encompasses any light guide that has at least two differently configured light extraction structures so that overlapping light rays are integrated together to produce a given illumination pattern. The particular configuration of light extraction structures as well as their arrangement on the light guide will depend on the illumination pattern that is desired. The illumination pattern will in turn generally depend on the application for which the illumination device is to be used. While the configuration and arrangement of the light extraction structures may be empirically determined for any given illumination pattern, the following guidelines may prove helpful in this process.

[0036] Light is reflected from any given notch surface in a lobe or cone whose intensity and set of ray angles is determined by the notch angle (e.g., angle 17 in FIG. 1). Lobes of light reflected from adjacent notch surfaces can overlap to some extent and are essentially additive when they overlap. The ray angle distribution from each notch surface contributes to the aggregate far field output results from the illumination device. The design of specific set of notch angles and spacings of an illumination device allows for tailoring of far field output. By ‘far field’ is meant a distance from the light source of greater than 20 times the size, i.e., length, of the light source.

[0037] As previously mentioned, the arrangement of the light extraction structures along the light guide will also be dictated by the desired illumination pattern. For example, the spacing between adjacent light extraction structures need not be constant, but may vary along the light guide. In addition, a series of light extraction structures defined by a particular sequence of notch angles may be repeated one or more times along the light guide. Finally, the light extraction structures can be varied in their depth into the light guide, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,432,876, incorporated herein by reference. Variations in notch depth can produce variations in radial (+/−y) distribution of emitted light. Light extraction structures of the present invention may be distributed along a single longitudinal axis of the light emitting region of the light guide, or they may be distributed along more than one longitudinal axis. Light guides having at least two sets of light extraction structures distributed along at least two longitudinal axes of a light guide are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,845,038, incorporated herein by reference.

Light Guide Illumination Device Fabrication

[0038] The illumination device of the present invention may be fabricated by any desired technique. In one method the light extraction structures are directly micro-machined into the light guide itself. In another method, a molding process is employed, which uses a conventional mold such as a two piece mold. Alternatively, the mold may be an expandable mold of the type disclosed in U.S. application Ser. No. 09/026,836, entitled “Method and Apparatus for Seamless Microreplication Using an Expandable Mold.” Briefly, an expandable mold is formed from a flexible material having a generally hollow portion that corresponds to the shape of the desired finished article (i.e., the light guide). The hollow portion is accessible through at least one opening. The hollow portion is filled with a curable material that hardens in the shape of the hollow portion of the mold. Once hardened, the finished article is removed by applying a pressure differential between the inside and outside of the mold so that the walls of the mold distend to facilitate removal of the molded article. Additional details concerning the expandable mold may be found in the previously mentioned patent application, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety including the drawings, as if repeated herein.

[0039] Regardless of the type of mold that is employed, the curable material that forms the finished article may be any material that hardens into a substantially optically transparent material and which can be introduced into the mold and hardened at temperatures and/or pressure conditions that do adversely affect the mold. The curable material may be curable by heat, radiation, or other known processes. Suitable curable materials include a polymerizable compound or mixture. Acrylates are a class of curable materials that are preferable for their transparency properties. Urethanes are also a desirable class of curable materials because their contraction during curing tends to be minimal, although only certain formulations have desirable transparency properties. Yet another curable material that may be used is silicone.

[0040] Other techniques also may be used to fabricate the illumination device of the present invention. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,631,994 is directed to a method in which an overlay is provided that incorporates the extraction structures. The overlay, which is formed from an optically transparent substrate, is fabricated by conventional manufacturing processes, such as a molding process. An adhesive backing is applied to the overlay so that it can adhere to the fiber core.

[0041] Although various embodiments are specifically illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated that modifications and variations of the present invention are covered by the above teachings and within the purview of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and intended scope of the invention. For example, while the present invention has been described as being particularly applicable to vehicular illumination devices, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the invention is equally applicable in many other situations where task lighting is required. In particular, the present invention may be used to provide a prescribed illumination pattern that is required by any of the numerous organizations that establish illumination standards. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An illumination device, comprising: a light guide including a light guide core having an optically smooth surface for propagating light therethrough and a light emitting region extending along a portion of the core, the light emitting region including: a plurality of light extraction structures distributed along the optically smooth surface of the light guide core, each light extraction structure including an optically reflective surface extending into the light guide core and oriented to reflect light at an angle less than a critical angle so that light is emitted from the light guide through the optically smooth surface, each such optically reflective surface forming a notch angle with respect to an axis that extends from the respective light extraction structure to a side of the optically smooth surface opposite such light extraction structure; wherein at least one of the light extraction structures has a notch angle that is different from a notch angle of at least one other light extraction structure; and wherein the plurality of light extraction structures include a series of light extraction structures defined by a particular sequence of notch angles, said series of light extraction structures being repeated a prescribed number of times along the optically smooth surface of the light guide core.
 2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the light guide is a light fiber.
 3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the light fiber has a circular cross-sectional shape.
 4. The device of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of light extraction structures are distributed along a plurality of longitudinal axes of the light fiber.
 5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of light extraction structures are equally spaced apart from one another along the optically smooth surface.
 6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of light extraction structures are unequally spaced apart from one another along the optically smooth surface.
 7. The device of claim 1 , wherein said light guide is formed from a polymerizable material.
 8. The device of claim 7 , wherein the polymerizable material is selected from the group consisting of acrylate, urethane, and silicone materials.
 9. A method for generating a prescribed illumination pattern, said method comprising the steps of: providing a light guide that includes a light guide core having an optically smooth surface for propagating light therethrough and a light emitting region extending along a portion of the core, the light emitting region including: a plurality of light extraction structures distributed along the optically smooth surface of the light guide core, each light extraction structure including an optically reflective surface extending into the light guide core and oriented to reflect light at an angle less than a critical angle so that light is emitted from the light guide through the optically smooth surface, each such optically reflective surface forming a notch angle with respect to an axis that extends from the respective light extraction structure to a side of the optically smooth surface opposite such light extraction structure; and arranging at least first and second notch angles to be different from one another so that light emitted through the optically smooth surface is emitted in the prescribed illumination pattern; wherein the plurality of light extraction structures include a series of light extraction structures defined by a particular sequence of notch angles, and further comprising the step of repeating a prescribed number of times said series of light extraction structures along the optically smooth surface of the light guide core.
 10. An illumination device, comprising: a light guide including a light guide core having an optically smooth surface for propagating light therethrough and a light emitting region extending along a portion of the core, the light emitting region including: a plurality of light extraction structures extending along the optically smooth surface of the light guide core, said light extraction structures having an optically smooth reflective surface and being configured so that light reflected therefrom is emitted from the light guide through the optically smooth surface; and wherein at least two of the light extraction structures have different configurations from one another; and wherein each light extraction structure has a notch angle denoting the angle between an optically smooth reflective surface of the light extraction structure and an axis extending from the light extraction structure to a side of the optically smooth surface opposite such light extraction structure, and wherein the plurality of light extraction structures include a series of light extraction structures defined by a particular sequence of notch angles, said series of light extraction structures being repeated a prescribed number of times along the optically smooth surface of the light guide core.
 11. The device of claim 10 , wherein the optically smooth reflective surface for each light extraction structure extends into the light guide core and is oriented at the respective notch angle to reflect light at an angle less than a critical angle so that light is emitted from the light guide through the optically smooth surface.
 12. The device of claim 10 , wherein said different configurations correspond to different notch angles.
 13. The device of claim 10 , wherein said light guide is a light fiber.
 14. The device of claim 10 , wherein said light guide has a circular cross-sectional shape.
 15. The device of claim 10 , wherein said light guide is a planar light guide. 